#earthrunes

"

She shrugs. "I told him what I couldn't tell him."

"How he responds to knowledge is sort of on him, don't you think? "

"He thinks I lied to him before. Had I not tried to come clean, he wouldn't be upset..."

Earl fights the urge to roll his eyes. She might misunderstand so he is sure to say "If you had not tried to come clean, he might have learned later anyway and misunderstood even more than he is now. "

"Mayhaps. And I shan't give him details - can't, won't. To protect all parties involved."

A sigh "I want to say 'he's our friend and you can trust him' but he did act rashiy at Firnost that time." he says concerned, "I can see why you're troubled. But, a selfish question, you're not hiding things from me right not now in order to protect me are you? Because I'd like to think I've been supportive without being rash and I don't think you should bottle it all up entirely."

"I... well... I'm sure there are details you don't know, aye..."

"If not to protect you, to protect another... "

Earl nods slowly, "Well, I both dislike that and yet appreciate what you're trying to do. i guess I can't expect you to break trusts with others even with me. I have to accept that your kith are as bound to secrets mine is tied to Guardianship" He takes one of her hands and kisses the knuckle "Share with me what you will, and what I need to know. I'll try to earn the rest in time"

"It's... hard. Even with you."

He nods "Let's face, even with your training I probably am blunt enough from time to time to make you cringe" An attempt to rally her "I should have it down pat in 30 or 40 years"

"Thou art a troll."

"I am. Know any women on the slender bookish side who are into trolls? "

A grin. "One or two."

"No one too loud, I have delicate ears" A smile

"Oh.... maybe."

"Perhaps one on a college bound path. Brains and a pursuit of education can be very alluring"

"Maybe you could be roommates." A blush and a shy grin.

"Oh, one could only hope. A slim fair skinned lass with intelligent dark eyes, a chuff of a laugh, and brains for miles as a room mate? Why I don't just raise my dreams to mad heights and tell me she loves poetry by dark rivers and tea under moonlight, and painters of the morbid"

"Well, dream big they say..."

the hand he kissed, he now entraps with his fingers, "Then I will, that I will have the woman I love sharing a residence with me so I can be near when she chases dreams"

"There are practical concerns...."

"Love, " A smile, "Do you like my dream?"

She briefly nuzzles his hands as they entwine with her own. "Aye."

He whispers into her ear as she moves forward, "Then we'll work on making that dream come true. Which ever you choose, we'll find a way, so don't worry about that. "

"Aye. A little place - a garret apartment, aye? With trees outside the windows..."

"I like that, and if we're allowed to paint it, I'll make it the dark lavenders and rich tones you like, and yes trees of course"

"You would move for me? Most of the ones I like are in the northeast..."

"Nothing wrong with the North East"

"Far from Kansas."

"Or Iowa" A smile

"But you remember, I wanted away from Iowa. And KC was valued because it was NOT Iowa. Turns out lots of places are NOT Iowa. Pick a Not Iowa and I'll be there"

"Well, pardon the DeBukes... but there is no school in Iowa I desire."

"Save, mayhaps, Emmitt's private tutelage."

"we'll visit Iowa for those, don't you worry." A nod

"Excellent, yes."

"I wonder what a new hold would be like?"

"well, odds are noble controlled." He admits, "Let's hope of a reasonable house and lord or lady. But we might be surprised and discover a commoner one closer to the college. Satyrs often are big on the college scene both as teachers and students"

A siiiiigh.

"I know, that might be a noisy hold if so, but maybe we shall be lucky. Your own kith has academic angles in many respects, maybe whatever hold we find near a college will have another sluagh?' A thought "Should we have a collection of teas as a gift in case that proves to be the case?"

"Books." Firmly.

"Books" A nod "I know sluagh, particularly your elders, can be territorial. Some respect is best paid, right?" Still getting the etiquette

She nods. "Any sluagh, elders doubly so..."

"Now if it's a troll lodge..." He sighs "Oh my, I'm a terrible member of my kith. I don't want it to be a troll lodge"

"No? Surely they aren't all like the Farm..."

"Oh you've see for yourself they're quite different. Rivervale , for one? " he sighs "But I don't fit in well with any of them. In a mixed commoner hold or Noble hold with some trolls in it oddieties are ..endured? if they follow the rules anyway But Troll Lodges are... I won't say static, but there I feel like they're expecting anything but me. "

"Hmph. Their loss. You are wonderful."

"I used to not think so," he smiles, "But you do make me feel wonderful. It's okay, please don't let a troll lodge be a deal killer. I will adapt to almost anything"

"Well, a Varich hold is a dealbreaker..."